The brutal repression of a demonstration in Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on August 30, 2023 led to harsh condemnation of some military officials involved. The main officer, Colonel Mike Mikombe, was sentenced to death, but this was commuted to life imprisonment, in line with the abolition of capital punishment in the DRC 20 years ago.
In addition to Colonel Mikombe, three other soldiers were sentenced to 10 years in prison. However, two other defendants were acquitted by the military justice in charge of the case. These sentences are more severe than the requisitions of the military prosecutor, who had not requested the death penalty for the main accused. The court retained the charge of “murder” and not that of “crime against humanity”, sparking mixed reactions.
The trial, which began quickly after the events, failed to clarify all aspects of the repression of the demonstration. The demonstration, organized by a political-religious sect to demand the departure of foreign forces and the UN Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), was violently repressed, leaving more than fifty dead. However, this assessment is contested by the victims’ families, and the exact circumstances of the intervention remain unclear.
A central question also remains: who gave the orders during this bloody repression? Colonel Mikombe has repeatedly demanded that the military governor of North Kivu, General Constant Ndima, be summoned to court to be heard. This request remained unanswered, leaving doubt about the responsibility of the high military authorities.
The defendants’ lawyers have already announced their intention to appeal these convictions, deeming the sentences too harsh and highlighting a lack of clarity in establishing responsibilities.
This case highlights ongoing tensions in the DRC, where political protests are often violently repressed. It also underlines the importance of justice and the responsibility of military actors in protecting the rights of citizens.
As spectators of these events, it is crucial that we continue to follow the developments of this case and demand that justice be served in a transparent and fair manner. Only true accountability for the perpetrators of violence can prevent such acts in the future and guarantee a climate of security for all Congolese citizens.